Long, complicated history behind S. Korea-Japan relations

November 2, 2015 10:58 AM

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SEOUL, South Korea — Thousands of years of deeply complicated history bubbled beneath the surface images of handshakes and flashing cameras Monday at the first formal meeting of Japanese and South Korean leaders in 3½ years.

The two Asian heavyweights’ relationship is so unique, so vexing, that the major accomplishment of the summit, which included a three-way meeting Sunday with China’s premier, was simply Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye rising, for now, above past disputes a...